Melka'Metisse Martinez Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

This 2016 Martinez Vineyard is vintner and winemaker Philippe Melka's second vintage coming from this 18-acre, grower vineyard on Pritchard Hill, at 1200 feet in elevation above St. Helena. The iconic wines from this area are noted for their complexity and this wine is no exception. "The aromas of minerality and crushed rock along with dark cherry, strawberry and toast leap from the glass. There is superb tension in the wine, yet it is seductive and has what we would characterize as tight power. It is an incredible multi-dimensional wine with superb length and refined tannins." Philippe Melka has the rare combination of talent and fortune to be a winemaker who started at the top: his first job out of school was at Château Haut Brion. From there, he took a position with the reputable Moueix Company and was sent to Dominus Estate in Yountville to study soils in 1991. Napa Valley soil proved to be a revelation for Melka. He set out traveling, dividing time between soil study and winemaking at world renowned wineries Badio O Coltibuono in Chianti and Chittering Estate in Australia. He returned to France in 1993 to deepen his expertise at Chateau Petrus. In 1994, he returned to Napa full time, and for the past 20 years, Melka has served as winemaking consultant for some of Napa’s most highly regarded properties under his company Atelier Melka founded in 1995. 280 cases were produced.